Lewis Air Legends Curtiss P-40C Tomahawk

History:
The Tomahawk was an early bird for the Second World War and stayed until the show was over. The first documented victory over a German aircraft unit was recorded by a P-40 pilot. This warbird is an American single-engine, single-seat, all-metal fighter and ground attack aircraft that took its first flight on April 10, 1941. The paint scheme of the Lewis Air Legends P-40 commemorates one of the first American heroes of WWII, 2nd Lieutenant George Welch, who claimed four kills on Japanese aircraft during the attack on Pearl Harbor. While it could go toe-to-toe with the Germans at low levels, the P-40 struggled against the superior Messerschmitt Bf 109 and Focke-Wulf Fw 190 at high altitudes. But the dogged fighter was crucial to the defense of American forces and was used by the air forces of 28 nations, including most Allied powers. This aircraft served on the Russian Northern Front until it was shot down on February 1, 1942, making it the first combat loss of its type in the European Theater. The Tomahawk was the third most produced American fighter, after the P-51 and the P-47. Today, however, this aircraft is one of only two airworthy P-40Cs in existence.

Restoration
This Tomahawk IIB, discovered as a wreck in Northern Russia around 1990, has been restored as the 194th P-40C. Warbird experts and rebuild specialists in New Zealand, AvSpecs, poured over 25,000 man-hours into the restoration of this priceless aircraft. Using the damaged originals as patterns, many parts were produced and restored. Rod Lewis was proud to add this remarkable piece of history to the unique Lewis Air Legends collection based in San Antonio, Texas. This Tomahawk was awarded Grand Champion Warbird at the Classic Fighters Airshow in Omaka, New Zealand and the Henry ‘Hap’ Arnold trophy for best Warbird at the National Championship Races in Reno, Nevada.